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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 4th, 2021–Apr 5th, 2021

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

South Coast.

A warming trend has the potential to weaken recent snow and cornices.

Confidence

High - Confidence is due to a stable weather pattern with little change expected.

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY NIGHT: Clear skies, 10 km/h north wind, treeline temperature -1 C, freezing level 1200 m.

MONDAY: Clear skies, 10 km/h northwest wind, treeline temperature 3 C, freezing level rising to 2000 m.

TUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, 20 km/h west wind, treeline temperature 0 C, freezing level 1500 m.

WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 20 cm, 40 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -2 C.

Avalanche Summary

We haven't received any observations for the South Coast region in the past few days. Please consider sharing your observations to the Mountain Information Network to help us know what conditions are like.

Snowpack Summary

Saturday's storm brought 15 to 25 cm of snow to the central/north of the region but only 5 cm along the North Shore, all above 1400 m. The snow fell with southwest wind so wind slabs may still exist in lee terrain features at high elevations. The snow fell onto a hard melt-freeze crust so it could take a couple days to bond to it. The snow surface has likely already melted and frozen into a crust on sun-exposed aspects. Warm air and sunny skies will likely moisten the snow on all aspects on Monday. Below 1400 m, expect to find a hard crust on the surface that will moisten during daytime warming.

Cornices are large and looming along ridgelines. Their release is unpredictable, requiring a large berth if you're travelling above or below them.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Avoid sun exposed slopes, especially if snow surface is moist or wet.

Problems

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.